Leinster - The Rugby Paper

Tag: Leinster

Wales legend Owens retires at 37

17 April 2024 0 comments

Former Wales captain Ken Owens has retired from professional rugby aged 37. The ‘Sheriff’ was the oldest ever-player to hold the role, as he played […]

Leinster sign Barrett for 2024/25 season

15 April 2024 0 comments

Leinster have confirmed the signing of experienced All Black utility back Jordie Barrett on a short-term deal from December to the end of next season. […]

Sparkling Leinster get it right this time

14 April 2024 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Leinster……………………….. 40pts Tries: Lowe 16, 60; Gibson-Park 37, Baird 42, Sheehan 56 Conversions: Byrne 18, 38, 43 Penalties: Byrne 7, 27, 31 […]

Doris: Croke will be massive

14 April 2024 0 comments

Leinster’s victorious squad are looking forward to their ‘home” semi-final at the 82,000 capacity Croke Park, two miles across Dublin from the Aviva Stadium. Skipper […]

Saints on rampage as Bulls fall apart

14 April 2024 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Northampton Saints….. 59pts Tries: Ramm 10, 47; Lawes 15, Sleightholme 20, Mitchell 24, 67; Coles 40, Dingwall 50, Augustus 72 Conversions: Smith […]

Easy to spot the fairer competition

14 April 2024 0 comments

BRENDAN Gallagher reports on Leinster’s convincing win over Leicester Tigers in the European Champions Cup last 16. The Leinster side is drawn from a variety […]

Six minutes wasted

14 April 2024 0 comments

TO increase ball-in-play time I suggest that if a a try is scored under the posts it be an automatic seven points, as it’s always […]

Another barmy idea from the men in suits

14 April 2024 0 comments

The Ministry of Silly Walks was a Monty Python sketch which lampooned bureaucratic inefficiency. Rugby Union requires something similar to shame the unaccountable administrators turning […]

Rugby schedule has little to do with player welfare

14 April 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW A roll of drums and a fanfare of trumpets late last summer heralded a new title sponsor […]

Time to create a new dynasty

14 April 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees looks at what Mark McCall needs to do at Saracens as several big names head for the exit door WHEN Saracens first won […]

It was an honour to reach the 400-mark

14 April 2024 0 comments

My Life in Rugby with Chris Dicomidis – The former Pontypridd, Cardiff, Wales U21 & Cyprus international looks back at his career in the game […]

What’s in The Rugby Paper: 14/04/24

12 April 2024 0 comments

The Women’s Six Nations returns as a record Scotland crowd host England and Ireland look to end their long losing streak in the tournament against […]

Investec Champions Cup quarter-final preview

12 April 2024 0 comments

La Rochelle head to Dublin looking to end Leinster’s hopes of a fifth Champions Cup title for the fourth consecutive season in a hugely exciting […]

Leinster march on to face old foes

7 April 2024 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Leinster……………………….. 36pts Tries: Gibson-Park 12, 23, 29; Henshaw 49, Conan 71 Conversions: R Byrne 13, 30, 50; H Byrne 72 Penalties: R […]

The day Crane had final word at Cardiff

7 April 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW The Millennium Stadium once staged a trio of penalty shoot-outs in four years as fondly remembered by […]

Here’s hoping we see another drop of magic

7 April 2024 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER IT’S Northampton against Munster in Europe today and for me that can […]

Investec Champions Cup last 16 preview

4 April 2024 0 comments

Romain Ntamack is set to get his first start for Toulouse this season as the top seeds join 15 other hopefuls in the knockout stages […]

Forthcoming fixtures

1 April 2024 0 comments

Week beginning Sunday, March 31, 2024 It is advisable to check matches and kick-off times with the clubs SUNDAY, MARCH 31 INTERNATIONALS Women’s Six Nations […]

We’ll pick our best team for Exeter, says Bath coach

31 March 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Bath will pick their strongest available side at Exeter in Saturday’s Champions Cup last 16 with head coach Johann van Graan billing […]

Big guns fire for Leinster

31 March 2024 0 comments

Leinster ………. 47 Bulls …………….. 14 By JOHN FALLON LEINSTER brought most of their big guns back for this one and head coach Leo Cullen […]

Ulster have little to offer

31 March 2024 0 comments

Shortly after Dan McFarland’s abrupt exit as Ulster’s head coach, chief executive Jonny Petrie dismissed any questions over his future at Ravenhill. “I’m committed to […]

Putting 50 points on the Aussies was a highlight

31 March 2024 0 comments

My Life in Rugby with Ruaridh Jackson – The former Scotland, Glasgow, Wasps and Harlequins fly-half talks about his career in the game IT was […]

Stick with coaches, Dallaglio urges RFU

24 March 2024 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Lawrence Dallaglio hopes the RFU have learned their lesson and will no longer jettison coaches too soon. The World Cup winner insists […]

I’m fresh and ready for action, says Muir

24 March 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Will Muir broke into the England squad this year and although he did not feature in the Six Nations, Bath’s coaches noted […]

Zebre …………… 7 Leinster …….. 31

24 March 2024 0 comments

LEADERS Leinster secured a bonus-point victory at Lanfranchi Stadium. First-half tries by Rob Russell and debutant Andrew Osborne, and further scores in the second by […]

Five-star Bath run URC leaders ragged

17 March 2024 0 comments

Bath ………………..35pts Tries: Cokanasiga 9, du Toit 34, Spencer 50, Muir 66, 75 Conversions: Bailey 10, 35, 51, 67; Worboys 76 Leinster…………… 7pts Tries: Connors […]

All set for a race to the finish

17 March 2024 0 comments

With the Premiership resuming next weekend, Paul Rees looks at how the runners and riders are gearing up The Premiership resumes this week after an […]

Bath get in the mood for restart

10 March 2024 0 comments

By JAMES EVANS Bath ……………………………. 59pts Tries: Reid 10, 35; Coetzee 13, Stewart 22, Wright 40, Richards 55, Gallagher 62, de Glanville 65, Faiva 70 […]

Come on, Joe! Time to pay attention

10 March 2024 0 comments

JOE Schmidt, the recently-appointed coach of a Wallaby vintage who wear the same colours as Matthew Burke, David Campese, Tim Horan and John Eales but […]

Dream Team with Michael Le Bourgeois

3 March 2024 0 comments

The Bedford Blues player-coach and former Wasps and Jersey Reds centre chooses the best XV he has played with or against 1. Joe Marler – […]

Carre leads fightback but Cardiff lack power

3 March 2024 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Cardiff …………………………. 20pts Tries: Carre 35, 38; Summerhill 75 Conversions: de Beer 35 Penalties: de Beer 11 Leinster………………………… 33pts Tries: Russell 4, […]

De Beer happy to welcome Sheedy

3 March 2024 0 comments

By SIMON THOMAS Cardiff’s Tinus de Beer says he will welcome the arrival of fellow fly-half Callum Sheedy at the Arms Park to help share […]

Big clubs are hit by ‘doublon’ clashes

3 March 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN We always knew the World Cup would play havoc with the Top 14 season – as soon as the 2023/2024 schedule […]

Rattled, but Irish still on course for slam

25 February 2024 0 comments

By PETER JACKSON Ireland………………………….. 31pts Tries: Sheehan 21, Lowe 32, Frawley 68, Beirne 81 Conversions: Crowley 22, 33, 68, 82 Penalties: Crowley 7 Wales……………………………… 7pts […]

As usual, Gibson-Park enjoys life in top gear

25 February 2024 0 comments

BRENDAN GALLAGHER It’s more than a little sobering to think that Ireland’s win over Wales on Saturday was probably their “iffy” performance of their 2024 […]

Double for McFarland as Saracens find feet

25 February 2024 0 comments

By PAUL CLEMENCE Saracens ……31pts Tries: Tizard 2, McFarland 8, 15; Lewington 28, Hallett 70 Conversions: Vunipola 3, 9, 70 Leinster…… 19pts Tries: Jenkins 45, […]

Ireland return to strongest team for Celtic Clash

22 February 2024 0 comments

Preview: Ireland vs Wales (Saturday, 2:15pm) Ireland continue their Grand Slam pursuit by making seven changes to return to their strongest XV against a winless […]

Assiratti goes from novice to mainstay

18 February 2024 0 comments

By ROB COLE A year ago Keiron Assiratti was wondering how he could prop up his family, never mind the Welsh scrum. Yet this weekend […]

Henshaw is full of praise for Nienaber

18 February 2024 0 comments

By ROB COLE Ireland centre Robbie Henshaw believes his game has improved since South Africa’s World Cup winning coach Jacques Nienaber has joined the Leinster […]

McDowall on fine form to put Glasgow in the clear

18 February 2024 0 comments

By BRYN PALMER Glasgow………..40pts Tries: McKay 1, 37, McDowall 3, 75, Ashfar 44, Cordero 69 Conversions: Thompson 2, 4, 38, 45; Weir 76 Dragons………….. 7pts […]

Leinster back in the swing

18 February 2024 0 comments

By JOHN FALLON Leinster ……… 47 Benetton ……… 18 LEINSTER captain Scott Penny praised the way his men took charge after the break to run […]

Short-term contract takes Grace to Bath

18 February 2024 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON FORMER Wales rugby league star Regan Grace has signed a short-term contract with Bath. The 27-year-old switched to rugby union and joined […]

This Irish dynasty will keep on going

11 February 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK WAS the speed of the Irish recovery after the World Cup surprising? No, because I don’t call it […]

Erasmus to take Springboks through to 2027

6 February 2024 0 comments

Rassie Erasmus will return as head coach of South Africa through to the next Rugby World Cup after the departure of Jacques Nienaber to Leinster. […]

Once again, the fans are being taken for granted

4 February 2024 0 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK THE European Cup’s ‘round of 16’ takes some beating when it comes to fiddling with a successful […]

Confident Crowley shows why he deserves the keys to No.10

4 February 2024 0 comments

BRENDAN GALLAGHER SIX NATIONS 2024 Regular readers of The Rugby Paper will recall that I told you a very long time ago that Jack Crowley […]

Dunn: I want to finish my time with a trophy

4 February 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Tom Dunn has spent his senior career at Bath and intends to finish it by emulating the teams he watched as a […]

The Six Nations round one unavailable XV

1 February 2024 0 comments

As the first Six Nations campaign of the new World Cup cycle draws nearer, the respective international coaches will be praying their major stars are […]

Slammers France and Ireland clash in seismic opener

31 January 2024 0 comments

Preview: France vs Ireland (Friday, 8pm) The highly anticipated 2024 Six Nations gets underway as the two tournament favourites, France and Ireland, clash in Marseille on […]